After Joe Burrow’s incredible 2024 fantasy season, his 2025 campaign may have come to an early end. First reported on Monday morning, Burrow will require surgery on his turf toe and will be sidelined for at least three months.
Not being back till the best-case scenario week 15 in December leads many fantasy owners to have to rely on their drafted backup early and possibly for the entire season. Some may have planned for this and drafted a solid backup, but others may not have, and could have someone who gives the team little chance of securing a championship.
Luckily for those owners, there is still hope with a few options at the quarterback position still available. Here are two undrafted quarterbacks who can be added off waivers that bring enough value to still win a fantasy championship.
Russell Wilson (New York Giants)
If you’re a fantasy owner who has Malik Nabers on the roster, putting a claim in for Russell Wilson is a no-brainer. In Wilson’s second game with the New York Giants, he passed for a career-high 450 yards, scoring three touchdowns with one interception. Of those 450 passing yards and three touchdowns, Nabers had 167 receiving yards and two touchdowns, showing an incredible connection between the two early in the season.
Some may say that the poor Dallas Cowboys’ secondary is the reason these two were able to combine for 68 total fantasy points, but that’s not the case. Wilson has targeted Nabers 25 total times, connecting on 14 and totaling 238 yards and two touchdowns. This production is undeniable, and if you wait too long, the chance at combining the two will be gone.
If you’re a fantasy owner who doesn’t have Nabers on the roster, there is still a strong case for adding Wilson as the best replacement for Burrow. Even though the Giants have one of the hardest schedules in all of the NFL, Wilson is battle-tested from years in the league and has the weapons to excel. Yes, the Giants’ offensive line is horrendous, but if he can get the ball out quickly and find his open receivers, he will average 18+ fantasy ppg.
Daniel Jones (Indianapolis Colts)
Heading into the season, not many fantasy owners thought Daniel Jones would be pushing his way into their lineups, but after two weeks, it’s hard to deny his value. In those first two weeks, Jones has thrown for 588 yards, scoring two passing touchdowns, plus two on the ground, with no turnovers. Not only is he playing incredibly well, but he’s leading the Indianapolis Colts to a historic start, scoring on every drive to give the team a 2-0 record.
These two starts may be a small sample size of Jones’ career, but in a new environment with better coaching, it will be the trend for the rest of the season. Coach Shane Steichen and OC Jim Bob Cooter have implemented an offensive scheme that utilizes all of their weapons in a well-balanced attack. This allows Jones to excel and create unlimited scoring opportunities. Having scored 62 total points through two weeks is just the start of an incredible offensive season for this franchise.
Some fantasy owners may have thought week one was a fluke against a terrible Miami Dolphins secondary, but Jones and the Colts proved this wasn’t the case. Defeating a top-five Denver Broncos defense in week two while throwing for 315 yards, a touchdown, and running one in on the ground showed he is going to thrive against any team. As long as Jones can stay healthy, keeping Anthony Richardson off the field, he is set up to be the best option in fantasy to replace Burrow, and will average 24+ fantasy ppg.
End Of My Top Fantasy Quarterbacks To Claim Rant
Fantasy owners, the time to claim either of these two quarterbacks is now. If you don’t put a claim in today, there is no chance they will be sitting there come Wednesday morning in 12-person leagues. Hopefully, if you lost Burrow, you’re in a top position in the waiver order so you can make your pick. If you end up in this position, there is no doubt you have to go for Jones. He is the best fantasy free agent and can be dominant against any team in the league.
If you’re not so lucky and are towards the middle or end of the waiver list, go after Wilson and pray no one else has the same idea. He may not be in a better position than Jones, but he is a valuable option that will have a plethora of great fantasy games this year. Don’t be foolish and overlook these two early fantasy stars for their past. The time to secure one is now, and it will be the flop of the season if you’re in need at quarterback and don’t claim one.
